Soldiers from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment provided a color guard as the High Desert Young Marines performed a flag folding ceremony at Desert View Cemetery in Victorville on Memorial Day.
This past Memorial Day, Soldiers and leaders from Fort Irwin and the National Training Center provided support to ceremonies held in communities of the High Desert.
Our commanding general, Brig. Gen. Terry Ferrell spoke at a ceremony held at Barstow’s Mt. View Cemetery. Colonel Sherrie Bosley, commander of 916th Support Brigade, was the keynote speaker at two events; she spoke at Victor Valley Memorial Cemetery in Victorville and Sunset Hills Memorial Cemetery in Apple Valley. The executive officer for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Lt. Col. James Kimbrough, provided comments during a ceremony at Desert View Cemetery in Victorville. Soldiers provided additional supported by serving as color guards, buglers and firing squads. Two of our Army chaplains provided invocations.
At Desert View, Kimbrough addressed the audience and thanked the community for the opportunity to have Fort Irwin and the NTC participate in the ceremony. Kimbrough also spoke about the significance of the day.
Lt. Col. James Kimbrough, executive officer of 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, speaks at Desert View Cemetery in Victorville on Memorial Day.
“Every generation that has been touched by war experiences a resurgence in the justification for this Holiday,†Kimbrough said.
“Proof lies in the contemporary local newspaper articles during and after World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Operation Desert Storm. The sentiments of today’s veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are no different. They have joined the efforts to remind the American public the meaning behind Memorial Day. There must be more to this day than a big tent sale, a movie marathon, restaurant specials, and bank closures. Memorial Day represents more than the unofficial start to summer and a day off from work.
Today is the day we, as a nation and a community, put aside to remember our fallen heroes. It is a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America, and to pay respects to those who rest in this cemetery and the many others across the globe. It is a day to remember those that answered the call of duty. It is a day to memorialize those that served something larger than themselves.â€
Kimbrough concluded his remarks with a poignant message:
“Today should be a day to celebrate with family, friends, and the memories of those resting here. They have given us the freedom to celebrate, and we remain in their debt. As we leave here today, may those buried here continue to rest in peace; a peace they have all earned. Thank all of you for joining us here today. May God bless you. And, most of all, I wish you a day full of memories.â€
Colonel Sherrie L. Bosley, commander of 916th Support Brigade, speaks at Sunset Hills Memorial Park on Memorial Day.
Juliette Bascom plays the Army song during the Memorial Day commemoration at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Apple Valley, May 28.
Members of the High Desert Marines Organization salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Desert View Cemetery in Victorville.
Static display at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Apple Valley on Memorial Day, May 28.
A color guard from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment participated in the Memorial Day ceremony at Desert View Cemetery in Victorville.
A Soldier from Fort Irwin and the National Training Center provided the playing of Taps at Desert View Cemetery, May 28.
Brigadier Gen. Terry Ferrell, commanding general of Fort Irwin and the National Training Center, speaks at Barstow’s Mt. View Cemetery during a Memorial Day ceremony.
My KIA Memorial was shown on your website! Thank you very much I have been working on getting it done for more than a year and it’s finally being seen!
Lee Williams
SAVE OUR VETS
P.S I’m Buliding a USMC one as we speak and it’s almost done!